IAR Broker Management CE Webinars Underway

There is still time to register for one of the remaining two-day classes designed to get managing brokers the 12 hours of broker management continuing education credit they may need by the April 30 deadline. (Broker Management CE is only required if you transitioned your license by Proficiency Exam). IAR offers the classes in an interactive online format for $159, or you can attend the classroom sessions at IAR's Springfield office for $139. See the list of upcoming sessions:

IRS Tax Tips for Mortgage Debt Forgiveness

Your REALTOR® organization and RPAC helped extend the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act through Jan. 1, 2014. This helps home owners and sellers who have a portion of their mortgage debt forgiven by their lender, typically in a short sale, foreclosure or mortgage modification. Without the extension, forgiven debt would be taxable, creating a tax burden. Share these 10 tax facts on mortgage debt forgiveness from the IRS.

Fannie Mae: Consumer Confidence in Housing Market Grows

Consumers have positive attitudes toward housing and the number of people who believe home prices will increase over the next year has risen to a record high, according to Fannie Mae's latest National Housing Survey.

Craigslist Rental Scams

IAR occasionally receives calls from members who suspect their sales listings have been posted on craigslist.org as rental listings when these properties are not for rent at all. If you believe this has happened to you, or you want to learn more about preventing it from happening, go to www.craigslist.org/about/scams.

It Takes More Than Luck to Succeed

Motivational speaker Dr. Tom Hill will outline the six characteristics that differentiate the most successful 15 percent of people from the rest and share six resources that can help you succeed at the IAR Spring Conference & Expo in Collinsville, May 8-9. Register by the March 27 early-bird deadline and IAR members pay only $99 for a two-day event that includes six hours of CE.

Realtor.com Launches Redesign

If you use Realtor.com, you'll notice a new look including a newlogo and a streamlined design that NAR believes will be more user friendly for REALTORS® and consumers.

Worst Commutes by Zip Code

The average U.S. commute may be 25.4 minutes according to census data, but some commuters sit in traffic far longer than that. Search by zip code to find average commute times in your community with this interactive map published by Slate.com.

Did You Know?

RPAC is the only political group in the country organized for REALTORS® and run by REALTORS®. RPAC exists solely to further issues important to REALTORS®. And it saves you money. Read What Is, What Isn't Law Because of RPAC.Contribute to RPAC. (Disclaimer: The Illinois REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) solicits contributions from IAR members only.)

State Capitol Update

With just two weeks for the 5,800 bills introduced during the spring legislative session to have a hearing in one of 68 committees of the Illinois General Assembly, your IAR lobbyists are hard at work protecting your business interests from burdensome legislation. Read the latest State Capitol Report.

March 27

Early bird deadline for IAR Spring Conference, May 8-9 in Collinsville. Register now and IAR members pay only $99.